Houston Falls Under Imminence’s Spell in a Mesmerizing Set

After a moody, overcast day, Houstonians gathered at House of Blues for an equally moody night with Imminence, Landmvrks, and Jiluka. I’ll be honest… never really listened to any of these bands before, let alone seen them live, so I had no clue what to expect. But, like always, I went in with an open mind, ready to see what all the hype was about. My best friend is a HUGE Imminence fan and practically begged me to cover this show for months… And if anyone knows my taste in music or live performances in general, it’s her. So, obviously, I was intrigued. I’ve already covered some insane shows this year, ones that are nearly impossible to top, but I went in with an open mind and zero expectations. What I definitely didn’t expect was the reaction I’d have by the time the night was over.

First up was Japanese gothic metal band Jiluka, and damn, I was in for a treat. From the second they hit the stage, it was nonstop energy. Hands down, this was one of the most electrifying sets I’ve ever witnessed. Vocalist Riko wasted zero time setting the bar high, his vocal range is absolutely insane, bouncing between piercing screams and deep, guttural growls like it was nothing. Y’all, I could barely keep up with photographing…that’s how intense their stage presence was. Every second felt like a whirlwind of sound and fury, and I was just trying to capture as much of it as possible. Jiluka tore through a short but explosive set, hitting tracks like “KVRSE,” “BLVCK,” “VENOM,” and more. Sadly for me, It ended way too soon… Just when I was fully locked into their sound, they were basically wrapping it up. Every single member brought their own fire to their performance… Riko’s raw, unhinged vocals, Boogie’s deep, pulsing basslines, Sena’s electrifying guitar melodies, and Zyean’s relentless, pounding drums. It was a masterclass in energy, precision, and chaos. By the time their set was over, I was just standing there, stunned. One band in, and I already knew this show was going to be something else. Consider me a new forever fan though.

Next up were the monumental metalcore heavyweights straight out of France…Landmvrks. I have no idea how I never checked these guys out before. I loveeeeeeee me some good-ass metalcore, so clearly, I’ve been slacking in that department. But never mind that…now was the time to get my chance to witness them in complete form. From the second they hit the stage, they dove straight into “Creature,” “Death,” and “Blistering,” kicking things off with back-to-back bangers. Heavier than I expected, but their stage presence? Surprisingly chill. If that makes any sense at all…. Less chaos, more controlled intensity I suppose? But sound-wise… completely flawless. Every member was locked in, nailing every note, every riff, every drum hit with precision.Lead vocalist Florent had the crowd right where he wanted them, bringing all the right energy. And then all of a sudden I looked back and witnessed one of the best things I’ve seen in a hot minute…a little kid crowd surfing through the middle of the audience. Seriously….Cutest. Thing. Ever. (Check out the picture at the end of the article) The whole venue erupted in excitement, and from that point on, it was pure mayhem. They also threw in a few songs from their upcoming album, ‘The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Seen’, and you could tell they were geeking out about it. The energy was different…like they were just itching for that release day (April 25th, by the way). After a set packed with gnarly growls, thick riffs, and unrelenting heaviness, Landmvrks wrapped things up with “Blood Red” and “Self Made Black Hole.” And just like that, their set was over too…short, crushing, and simply badass.

Finally, it was time for what everyone was most stoked to see…Swedish melodic metal icons, Imminence. The crowd settled in for the rest of the night, and you could feel the anticipation thick in the air. Merch lines had finally cleared, bartenders were catching a break, and the entire venue was buzzing with excitement. Then, the stage went dark… One by one, each band member emerged, taking their place. And immediately, I was mesmerized. Their stage setup was hands down one of the most stunning I’ve ever seen or photographed. A haunting beautiful backdrop of church windows, fog rolling across the floor, dim atmospheric lighting—it was just gorgeous. My jaw was literally on the floor. Definitely a concert photographer’s dream. They kicked things off with “Paralyzed,” “Ghost,” “Beyond The Pale,” and “Erase”, and from that moment, I was once again hooked. Everything about their presence was mind-blowing. Lead vocalist and violinist Eddie Berg had the entire crowd wrapped around his finger (myself included), shifting seamlessly between intimate, haunting melodies and intense, gut-punching screams. And every time he picked up that violin I instantly had goosebumps. Each member had a massive role to play in creating their unique, cinematic sound, and they all absolutely delivered. Y’all…the crunchy guitars, the pounding drumbeats, and those gnarly riffs? I couldn’t get enough. They tore through a stacked setlist, playing a mix of fan favorites, including “The Call Of The Void,” “God Fearing Man,” and “Come Hell Or High Water,” before closing out the night with “The Black” and “Le Noir.”

I cannot rave enough about this show. Every band left me wanting to rush home and binge their entire catalogs on repeat. And honestly… I’m pretty damn sure I was still feeling all that energy and emotion the next day. Easily one of the best shows I’ve seen this year. If they hit your city, do not sleep on them.